Annual New Hampshire Events

This is just a sampling of the many exciting and unique events hosted in New Hampshire each year. For a complete list of events, please view our complete Online Events Calendar.
January: New Hampshire Sanctioned & Jackson Invitational Snow Sculpting EventThis event attracts a wide variety of snow sculptors, both amateur and professional. Most of the teams will start sculpting on Friday and continue working through the night on Saturday to complete their sculptures in time for the judging on Sunday afternoon. Besides just viewing the amazing snow creations, other activities planned for the snow sculpture weekend include a welcome reception dinner, with a bon fire and roasting of marshmallows, sleigh rides and more. Location: Black Mountain
Jackson, NH 03846Phone: 800-866-3334Website:http://www.jacksonnh.com/event/14/NH-Sanctioned-Snow-Sculpting-Event

March: Maple Sugaring in New HampshireMore than 50 sugar houses across New Hampshire open their doors to visitors. Take the opportunity to tour maple orchards and sugar houses and learn how maple syrup is made. Taste free samples of maple products and fill up on pancake breakfasts. Location:Various sugarhouses statewidePhone: 603-225-3757 Website:www.nhmapleproducers.com

May: New Hampshire Restaurant WeekRestaurant Week in New Hampshire is the ultimate foodie event for residents and visitors to New Hampshire! Take part in this delicious celebration of cuisine by dining at one of the many enticing eateries, then staying overnight at one of our participating lodging properties. Participating restaurants statewide offer 3-course prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner.Location:Locations StatewidePhone: 603-228-9585Email:[email protected]
Website:http://www.restaurantweeknh.com

June: Fields of Lupine FestivalPaying homage to the annual blossoming of this captivating wildflower, the Fields of Lupine Festival is a time honored regional event. The brilliant spikes of the lupine flower carpet local fields and pastures in a rolling sea of vibrant purples, pinks, blues and whites. The long-lasting blossoms attract equally dazzling butterflies and create a breathtaking floral display against the majestic backdrop of the Franconia, Presidential, and Kinsman Mountain ranges. Every visitor is guaranteed abundant photo and recreational opportunities in the Northeast's most spectacular mountain region.Location:Franconia, Sugar Hill and Easton, NHPhone: 603-823-5661Email:[email protected]Website:http://www.franconianotch.org/things-to-do/special-events/lupine-festival.aspx

June: Laconia Motorcycle WeekThe nation’s oldest motorcycle rally brings thousands of enthusiasts to New Hampshire each year. “America’s Original Riding Rally” welcomes guests from around the country to this hotbed of riding heritage every June. Bikers can look forward to breathtaking motorcycle rides through winding roads, stunning lake vistas and riding on historic roads like the Kancamagus Highway. There will be headlining bands and concerts all through the Lakes Region so you can quench your thirst for some good music. Location:Laconia, NHPhone: 603-366-2000Website:www.laconiamcweek.com

July: Prescott Park Arts FestivalThe New Hampshire Art Association and Prescott Park Arts Festival hold a juried exhibition of original artwork by NHAA members and Seacoast Area artists, including a fantastic variety of sculpture, painting, pastels, collage, and photography are on exhibit throughout the summer. Location:Prescott Park
Portsmouth, NHPhone: 603-436-2848Email:[email protected]Website:http://www.prescottpark.org

July: Hillsborough Balloon Fest & FairThe Hillsborough Balloon Festival and Fair is a four day event with activities and fun for all! The thrills of the weekend are the Hot Air Balloons piloted and crewed by regional balloon enthusiasts. Balloon flights over New Hampshire's beautiful Monadnock Region are available to the general public along with tethered flights for the more cautious. Other highlights of the festival weekend include an Artist's Fair, a hometown parade and 5k Road Race. And the Saturday night fireworks extravaganza is one of the premier fireworks displays in all of New Hampshire! Location:Grimes Field
Hillsborough, NH 03244
Phone: 603-464-0377Email:[email protected]
Website:http://www.balloonfestival.org

August: North Country Moose FestivalIt would be wrong if the North Country Chamber of Commerce didn't pay homage to one of the great creatures in our forests - the moose. Each year, the North Country Moose Festival draws hundreds of people to the weekend-long events, including the classic car show and moose calling contest. And of course, no Moose Festival would be complete without "moose burgers!"Location:Colebrook, Columbia, Pittsburg, NH Phone: 800-698-8939Email:[email protected]Website:http://www.northcountrychamber.org/About-our-Chamber/Moose-Festival/default.aspx

August: Hampton Beach Children's FestivalThe Annual Hampton Beach Children's Festival is the family fun event of the summer, kicking off with a magic show and building up to a Giant Costume Parade that marches almost the length of Hampton Beach. Every child gets a prize just for being in it! Each day will be a blockbuster, filled with non-stop activity and entertainment, including mini-golf and sand castle building competitions, a Ronald McDonald show, talent show, free ice cream, dancing, story tellers, balloons, and more. There's even a kids' bumper sticker contest. Location: Hampton Beach - Seashell Stage Area
Hampton Beach, NHPhone: 603-926-8717Website:http://www.hamptonbeach.org/children-only.cfm

September: Hampton Beach Seafood FestivalThe Hampton Beach Seafood Festival has been acclaimed as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association for multiple years running! Event attendance is now estimated as exceeding 150,000! Festivities include: Over 50 of the Seacoast's top restaurants serving an abundance of mouthwatering seafood delicacies; 80 Arts & Crafts vendors promoting locally made products; hundreds of Ocean Boulevard merchants offering end-of-the-season Sidewalk Sales; a Kiddie Land with children's entertainment; continuous Culinary Chef Demonstrations; and two stages of continuous entertainment with 15 Bands and Orchestras. Location:Hampton Beach, NHPhone: 603-926-8717Email:[email protected]Website:http://www.hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com/

October: Keene Pumpkin FestivalThe annual Pumpkin Festival brings record crowds to Keene's Downtown. It has also won recognition from the Guinness Book for the largest number of lit jack-o-lanterns in one place at one time in the entire World! Everyone that carves a pumpkin signs the Guinness Book log, becoming an official part of the attempt to break the World record. Food vendors, crafts fair, kids activities, fireworks and more!Location: Downtown Keene
Keene, NH 03431
Phone: 603-352-4410Email:[email protected]Website:http://pumpkinfestival2011.org/

October: RiverfireVoted "Best of NH" by New Hampshire Magazine, Riverfire burns bigger and brighter every year! The day's events begin with a duck race on the Androscoggin River at 3:00 PM. There will be hayrides, a Children's Costume Parade, kiddy carnival and bouncy houses. Stroll on the beautiful River Walk, warmly illuminated with Tiki Torches The River Walk leads to a wonderful display of intricately carved and lighted pumpkins on the walking bridge. Rounding out the evening is a variety of entertainment, food & beverage vendors and the spectacular Riverfire lighting ceremony at dusk! The Logging Camp will be turned into a haunted village presented by Theatre North. The haunted village promises to be a thrilling and chilling experience you will not want to miss nor will you soon forget! Come and enjoy all of this and more!Location:Rotary Park & Northern Forest Heritage Park
Berlin, NHPhone: 603-752-6060Email: [email protected]Website:http://www.northernforestheritage.org/river_fire.htm

December: Candlelight StrollStroll through life in a simpler time as 350 years of American history, winter traditions, and holiday celebrations unfolds around you in New Hampshire's oldest waterfront neighborhood. The event features Historic houses from four centuries decorated in period regalia, Hundreds of candles lighting the lanes and landscape a Gingerbread house contest and display, Live music and holiday entertainment for all ages, Horse-drawn carriage rides, Holiday decoration demonstrations, Traditional barrel making demonstrations, 18th century holiday hearth cooking, Tinsmith demonstrations and so much more! Bring the whole family for a wholesome stroll through the sights, sounds, and smells of New England's favorite holiday season. Location:Strawberry Banke
Portsmouth, NH
Phone: 603-433-1107Email:[email protected]
Website:http://www.strawberybanke.org/